While it may be impossible to completely get rid of wrinkles — particularly deep ones — it’s definitely possible to minimize their appearance. Through maintaining a healthy lifestyle and using effective wrinkle treatments, you can greatly reduce the appearance and formation of deep facial wrinkles.

Steps

Part 1

Following a Good Skin Regimen

1

Wear sunscreen. Studies have named the sun as the No. 1 cause of wrinkles. Wear a broad-spectrum (UVA and UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. There is no need to go above SPF 50.[1]

You need to wear sunscreen even when it’s not sunny. If you’re tanned, this doesn't mean that you’re protected from the sun. Wear sunscreen no matter what![2]

Wearing sunscreen will not only prevent wrinkles; it will also reduce your risk of getting skin cancer.[3]

Wash your face every day. Doctors recommend washing your face twice a day — no more than that. Over-washing your face can strip your skin of its natural oils and moisture so that wrinkles appear deeper; it may even cause new wrinkles to form.[5]

Even if your skin is oily, don't wash your face more than twice a day, as it can irritate your skin and, if you have acne, it can cause further breakouts.

People with mature skin (ages 40 and up) can likely get away with washing their faces with a cleanser each night, and only rinsing with cool water in the morning.[6]

3

Use a toner after you wash your face. Applying a toner to your skin after you’ve washed your face can help balance your skin’s pH and keep it looking healthier. Just be sure to avoid toners containing alcohol, as this can dry out your skin.

4

Use a good-quality moisturizer that targets wrinkles. Many moisturizers contain ingredients aimed at fighting and preventing wrinkles. Apply a moisturizer to your face twice a day: once after your morning face-wash and once after your evening face-wash.

There is little evidence to suggest that day and night creams are particularly different; however, some ingredients in moisturizers are made ineffective by the sun. For example, retinol, a highly effective wrinkle-fighter, is rendered inactive by sunlight.[7]

5

Use a good eye cream. The skin around your eyes is different from the rest of your facial skin: it is thinner and more delicate, quicker to wrinkle and droop. For this reason, it’s worthwhile to use an eye cream in addition to your facial moisturizer.

Part 2

Choosing the Right Wrinkle Treatment

1

Treat your wrinkles with retinoids. Some health professionals claim that retinoids are the best proven way of reducing wrinkles and other signs of aging. At first, medications containing retinoids can cause redness and peeling, but once the peeling stops, your wrinkles should be improved. You can get a retinoid cream as a prescription from your doctor.

Many drugstore skincare brands offer creams containing retinol, a less irritating form of the prescription acid, retinoid. These do not require a prescription. They vary in quality, so it’s important to know what to look for.

Use skincare products containing idebenone. Idebenone is a powerful antioxidant. A recent study showed that in 6 weeks of topical use, idebenone was able to reduce lines and wrinkles by 29%.[10]

3

Use skincare products containing alpha-hydroxy acids. Alpha-hydroxy acids will not irritate your skin as much as retinoids, but they also won’t give you the same results. These skincare products will only subtly reduce your wrinkles.[11]

Try a skin peel. There are a variety of skin peels available both through medical professionals and over the counter.[13] Note that the deeper the peel, the more likely it is to irritate your skin. Peels can even cause scarring and changes in skin color.[14]

6

Glycolic acid peels are superficial and can subtly reduce the intensity of fine wrinkles.

Peels with ingredients like salicylic acid and trichloroacetic acid go deeper than glycolic acid peels; as a result, they are better at removing fine lines.

7

Consider laser resurfacing. Lasers can stimulate collagen production, making the skin look plumper. If your wrinkles are particularly deep and you’ve found that nothing else works, ask your doctor to see if this might be an option.

8

Consult a medical professional. If you have tried everything and are still struggling to reduce or remove your wrinkles, speak to a doctor or a dermatologist. A medical professional may be able to help you select a wrinkle-removing option that’s right for you — for example, a medication, a medical procedure, or a prescription cream.

Part 3

Adjusting Your Lifestyle

1

Avoid the sun. Dozens of studies have named the sun the No. 1 cause of wrinkles. One study even found that sun exposure was more important than heredity in determining wrinkles.[15] Best stick to the shade!

If you must go out in the sun, ensure that you’re covered up: wear sunglasses, a hat, and at least SPF 30 sunscreen.

Particularly avoid going out in the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., when its rays are at their strongest.[16]

2

Don’t smoke. If you do smoke, here’s another reason to quit: many studies have confirmed that cigarette smoke ages skin; it does this primarily by releasing an enzyme that breaks down collagen and elastin, which are important to keeping your skin looking young.[17]

3

Avoid alcohol. Excess alcohol consumption can damage blood vessels in the skin. It can also harm the liver, which can cause wrinkles.[18]

4

Drink enough water. When you’re dehydrated, your wrinkles can appear deeper. Staying well-hydrated will keep your skin looking healthy. If you’re unsure of how much water you should be drinking, divide your body weight (in pounds) in half: that’s how many ounces of water you should drink each day.

A 150-pound woman should drink 75 ounces of water each day.

If you exercise or live in a hot climate (i.e. if you sweat a lot), you’ll need to increase your water intake.

A reliable way to tell if you're getting enough water is by paying attention to your urine: if it’s bright yellow or has a strong smell, you’re likely not getting enough water.

5

Eat healthy, anti-inflammatory foods. Some doctors have linked inflammation to poor skin quality (including wrinkles) as well as diseases such as cancer and heart disease.[19] Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, raw nuts, whole grains, and lean proteins.[20]

Get enough antioxidants. Antioxidants such as vitamin E, C, A, and B are essential for healthy skin. To ensure that you get enough of these vitamins, eat 5 to 7 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables each day.[21]

Some recommendations in case you’re unsure of where to start: tomatoes, citrus, green leafy vegetables, and carrots.[22]

In addition to eating foods rich in vitamin C, using vitamin C as a topical agent can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles. The most potent form of topical vitamin C is L-ascorbic acid; search for this ingredient in face creams.

7

Get enough vitamin K. Some studies have linked vitamin K to improving skin elasticity.[23] Load up on vitamin K with leafy green vegetables such as kale, spinach, and broccoli.

8

Get enough sleep. When we don’t get enough sleep, our bodies produce excess cortisol, which breaks down skin cells. When you get enough sleep, your body will produce more human growth hormone (HGH), which will help your skin look thicker and more elastic.[24]

The average adult needs between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night. Teenagers need between 8.5 and 9.5 hours of sleep each night.[25]

When you do sleep, sleep on your back if possible. Sleeping on your back can help prevent wrinkles on your cheeks and chin if you’re a side sleeper, and on your forehead if you sleep on your stomach.[26]

9

Reduce stress. Cortisol, which breaks down skin cells and promotes wrinkle formation, is the primary stress hormone.[27] Beyond that, physical expressions of stress can also lead to deep facial wrinkles: frown lines around your lips and forehead, wrinkles between your eyebrows. Try these techniques for reducing stress:

Meditate for a few minutes each day. Sit up straight on a chair or in a cross-legged position on the floor. Close your eyes and focus your attention on reciting a positive mantra — for example “I feel at peace” or “Breathe in love, breathe out fear”. Place one hand gently on your stomach to remind yourself to breathe deeply into it.[28]

Practise deep breathing. Sit straight with your eyes closed and your hand on your abdomen. Slowly inhale through your nose, imagining that you are inflating a balloon deep down in your stomach. Slowly exhale through your mouth, paying attention to how your body feels as the breath moves out of you.[29]

Do something nice for yourself. Light some candles and poor yourself a nice hot bath with some stress-reducing lavender oil. Go for a slow, mindful walk and take in the scenery around you. Watch 10 minutes of cute animal videos. Whatever makes you feel good, do it!

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Community Q&A

Generally, retinoids (such as retinol [available in over-the-counter products] and tretinoin [stronger and available with a prescription]) are considered especially effective for wrinkles, but can be very drying and have other side effects. Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) are also very good and tend to be gentler. Other good ingredients to have in your skin care products are vitamin C, BHAs, niacinamide, and peptides. While each of these ingredients is helpful on its own, the most effective thing is to have a comprehensive skin care routine that includes most or all of them, as they all target different aspects of aging. It's also better to have separate products formulated around them than to have them all in one product, as most of them have a specific pH range at which they work best. And remember to always use sunscreen to help keep wrinkles from getting worse. Sunscreens with broad-spectrum coverage or a PA rating will do the most work to protect your skin from sun damage.

It depends on your skin type and your skin sensitivity. If you burn easily, then something with 50spf or higher should be great. If you do not burn easily then a lower spf will be fine, but you should not go lower than 10spf.
If you are asking about how well they do with dry skin or type of skin, then you should get one that says it doesn't dry out skin or moistens while it protects.

Tips

Use makeup to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles: moisturize; use a silicone primer before your foundation; use a light, moisture-rich foundation; dust a loose mineral powder over your face; and then go natural with the rest of your makeup, highlighting your eyes and using a smudge-proof lipstick that won't creep into the lines around your lips.[30]

Many people say that silk and satin pillowcases can help reduce and prevent wrinkles, but little to no scientific evidence exists to back this up.

If you only do one thing to prevent wrinkles, wear sunscreen.

Having a bit of extra weight on you can fill in and soften wrinkles, making you look younger.[31][32] This is particularly true for women over the age of 40. This doesn’t mean you should necessarily gain weight, but it’s something to be aware of you’re thinking of losing weight.

Warnings

Be careful when choosing a sunscreen as some of them contain potentially dangerous ingredients. Avoid sunscreens containing retinyl palmitate, oxybenzone, and nanoparticles such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.[33][34]

Note that avoiding the sun, while good for your skin’s appearance, may reduce your vitamin D absorption. Vitamin D is essential for strong bones and can also help keep your mood up. Other sources of vitamin D include fish, fish liver oils, egg yolks, and fortified dairy and grain products. You can also take vitamin D supplements.[35]

Many home remedy sites recommend putting lemon juice and other fruit juices high in vitamin C on your face. Doing this can actually cause more harm than good, as it can dry out your skin and make it more likely to burn in the sun.[36]